Compare towns
Worcester vs Bristol vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Worcester | Bristol | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,778Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Bristol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Bristol and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.